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Your relationship with yourself is just like any other relationship in your life, it’s the most important relationship in your life.
It requires commitment, time, and effort. It’s important not to neglect yourself. If nurturing yourself doesn’t come naturally, try these ways you can practice mental self-care and give yourself some self-love.
20 Ways To Practice Self-Love
1. Get To Know Yourself
You can’t love someone if you don’t even know who they are, and that goes for yourself too.
Invest some time in discovering what you believe in, what your values are, and things you like.
Learn what your love language is so you know how to show yourself some love.
2. Don’t Compare Yourself To Others
Replace criticism and comparison with acceptance and appreciation.
Try to be aware of when you criticize or compare yourself to others. When those thoughts come, stop and think of something you like about yourself, or simply repeat a self-love mantra.
Other people aren’t better than you, they’re just different. You have value and you need to accept and appreciate that.
3. Allow Yourself To Be Present
Life can be really busy and it may seem like we never have time to just relax and treat ourselves.
So just allow yourself to be present and find relaxation in every moment you can.
Instead of just focusing on rushing to work, focus on the scenery around you as you go there, stop for a coffee before work and just let yourself be present.
4. Understand and Appreciate Your Strengths
We all have things we’re good at, but many of them go unnoticed by us.
Understanding these strengths is important in practicing self-love.
When you’re busy and distracted it’s hard to appreciate these qualities. Focusing on your strengths will increase your positive feelings for yourself, and allow you to see yourself in a more positive light.
5. Treat Yourselves
We often forget to treat ourselves. I’m not talking about rewarding yourself, Im talking about getting yourself something you want just because.
Whether it’s just a small snack you like or those new shoes you’ve been eyeing, learn to treat yourself occasionally.
6. Be Honest With Yourself
Being open and honest is an important part of any relationship, and is especially important when practicing self-love.
You can’t love yourself in your entirety if you’re constantly lying to yourself and making excuses. A true form of self-love means taking accountability and taking responsibility.
7. Accept Your Mistakes and Imperfections
We are our hardest critics, and oftentimes than not, we are too hard on ourselves.
Cut yourself some slack and understand that you’re only human. Accept the mistakes you’ve made and understand that you’re not perfect.
When you make a mistake, focus on how you can fix it and avoid making this mistake again rather than focus on the fact that you’ve made a mistake.
8. Stop Looking For Validation
Accept that people won’t always like you.
Some people don’t even need a reason to not like you.
Don’t waste your time trying to please people who are impossible to please or people who just aren’t that important to you.
Being yourself means you have to give up your people-pleasing ways and embrace your authentic self.
9. Make Having Self-Care A Priority
Put self-care on your agenda every week.
Whether you go all out and have an at-home spa day or simply take a long shower for self-care.
There are many easy ways to practice self-care that are easy, I like to give myself pedicures and manicures at home. It’s easy and fun and really makes me feel like I love myself.
Just like rest, we all need self-care in order to feel good. Don’t skimp on this important need.
10. Practice Gratitude As A Form Of Self-Love
Gratitude is one of the simplest ways to focus on the good in yourself and in your life.
Try identifying 3 things you’re grateful for when you wake up every morning, it can be as simple as being grateful for just waking up, or for having had a good night of sleep.
11. Record, Appreciate, and Celebrate Your Accomplishments
This self-love activity is especially great because it allows you to have a record of all your accomplishments, that you can re-visit whenever you’re feeling low.
Add to it and read your list whenever you need to.
When you do have accomplishments, allow yourself to celebrate them and give yourself a healthy reward.
12. Take Care Of Your Body
Good health is the ultimate form of self-love.
Exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, and eat healthy meals, don’t restrict yourself from enjoying your favorite snacks though, everything is fine in moderation.
Get a healthy amount of sleep and limit your alcohol consumption.
13. Pursue A New Hobby
Hobbies can be fun, relaxing, challenging, and creative. Hobbies have been known to have positive effects on your mental health.
Hobbies can be a great way to practice self-love, find a hobby that’s best for you.
14. Communicate With Yourself In A Kind And Positive Way
Self-talk has a big impact on how you feel about yourself.
Ask yourself how you would communicate with someone you love, care about, and admire, and then try to incorporate that communication style into the way you speak to yourself.
The way we talk to ourselves is important for maintaining self-love.
15. Respect Yourself By Setting Boundaries And Prioritizing Your Needs
Helping people is always a good thing unless you do this at your expense.
Practice saying no when you can’t or just don’t want to help out. This will avoid you from having too much on your plate and being overwhelmed.
Being assertive is a way of showing others that your opinions and needs matter. Loving yourself means you know your value and can communicate it to others.
16. Spend Quality Time With Yourself And Go On Solo Dates
Every relationship benefits from quality time.
Learn to appreciate your own company by taking time to take yourself out on solo dates.
Whether it’s pursuing a hobby, meditating, going for a hike, or taking yourself out to the movies, spend time with yourself doing the things you enjoy.
17. Write Yourself A Love Letter
Show yourself some self-love by writing yourself a love letter or a poem.
Focus on what you love about yourself and really just take the time to appreciate yourself.
18. Create A Daily Self-Love Ritual
Unplug and spend your last 15 minutes before your bedtime appreciating yourself. Have a cup of tea and journal, focus on yourself, recite a self-love affirmation, and write three things you love about yourself.
If you can’t think of anything else to write about, here are a few journal prompts.
19. Let Go Of Toxic People
If there’s someone who is bringing toxicity into your life and they constantly make you feel bad, that might mean you need to step away from them.
Don’t be afraid to do this. It’s liberating and important, even if it may be painful.
20. Trust Yourself
We doubt ourselves to make decisions that benefit us, with no reason at all.
Remember that your feelings are valid. You’re not losing touch with reality. You know yourself better than anyone else, so be your best advocate and trust yourself.
Try these 20 ways to show yourself some love, or try out our 30-Day Self-love Challenge.
Practicing gratitude has really changed my positivity with myself and the world. It’s the first thing I recommend to friends who are in a negative headspace. Thanks so much for sharing your amazing thoughts on it!
This is a great post and even better advice! Not a lot of people really not what self care is, much less what it means. Thank you so much for sharing!
These are great things to consider. Definitely need to work on these things to have a good life.
Such great points here! I think I fall into the comparing myself trap. That is never helpful. Thank you so much for sharing.